Minty Gal

With much anticipation, K-pop power group KARD released their 7th mini-album in August of this year. The 7-year veterans have honed their dancehall and Latin-inspired vibes guaranteed to get your body moving. This newest project is no different. Their high energy, confidence laced bars, and sensitive vocals have been their bread and butter for years. KARD is one of those rare groups, with members that never outshine each but rather complement each other’s individual charms and talents. Their sound is unique, perfectly blending 2 singers, Jiwoo and Somin with 2 rappers, BM and J.Seph.

The title song ‘Tell My Mama’ and ‘Waste my Time’ are the songs off the album that have a softer sound which was a nice surprise. Jiwoo and Somin’s vocal really shine and I believe both songs really showcase the unique beauty KARD brings to the K-Pop scene. Proving time and time again on how you do a co-ed group right. ‘Boombox’ is confident, catchy and cool. This song feels grown and there is a vintage hip hop vibe that I can appreciate. ‘Spin’ has that Latin flair with a few Spanish lyrics. I enjoy a song in which they highlight one of their main influences. I also feel their fans really enjoy this as they have a large Spanish speaking fanbase. One of my favorite songs on the album is ‘Shimmy Shimmy’. It’s a shame this song didn’t get a music video as it’s just as catchy as the title song. I would’ve loved to see visuals to accompany this sound, especially since the song blends all the members’ charms effortlessly. The song no doubt has flair, a strong representation of the groups’ overall vibe. Cool, confident and unapologetic.

I don’t believe this album got enough praise. It’s definitely one of the better mini albums released this year. It’s fresh. It’s cool. They look great. It’s mostly in English. What’s there not to love?